Lyndon Baines Johnson "This voting rights bill will be the latest and among the most important in a long series of victories. But this victory.. is not the end; it is not even the beginning of the end.... Freedom is the right to share fully and equally in American society, to vote, to hold a job, to enter a public place, to go to school.... But freedom is not enough. You do not wipe away the scars of centuries by saying now you're free to go where you want and do as you desire and choose the leaders you please. You do not take a person who for years has been hobbled by chains and liberate him, bring him up to the starting line of a race and then say, you're free to compete with all the others. Negroes are trapped, as many Whites are trapped, in inherited gateless poverty. They lack training and skills. They are shut in slums without decent medical care .... We are trying to attack these evils.... Much of the Negro community is buried under a blanket of history and circumstance. It is not a lasting solution to lift just one corner of that blanket."
Social Movement:
Lyndon Baines Johnson is no doubt one of the most active and influential social reformers in American history. He supported many human rights movements for consumer protection, poverty, education, healthcare, and the environment. However, his most devoted and breakthrough cause would be the civil rights movement. Throughout his careers and presidency, he strived to give African Americans the rights they deserved, notably voting rights. He successfully passed much legislation and support which significantly allowed people to grasp the equality they deserved, and paved the way for the eventual end to prejudice.
Purpose/Drive:
Johnson grew up in Johnson City, Texas. His upbringing and social status growing up heeds an understanding and reason to why he strongly supports social movements. LBJ lived in poverty majority of his childhood, and he even states that his earliest memory would be comforting his mother at the water pump. He had done odd jobs here and there to bring extra cash in at home, such as shoeshine and helping out in farms. Lyndon Baines Johnson grew up with a strong moral fiber, and despite being a Southerner believed that African Americans should receive the same rights as whites. He was an idealist with lofty goals to completely change the way America functioned, and to bring desperately needed social reforms.
Occupation/Socio Economic Background:
LBJ has much experience which would be extremely beneficial to the position being offered as the Secretary of Social Reform. He has a first hand experience in the horrors and struggle of the low class social problems, and no doubt could use those credentials to properly make some progress. His first real occupation was as a teacher in his state. He worked with black farmers and school children, because he believed small steps would make better progress. Johnson eventually became the Director of the National Youth Administration, which was part of Franklin Roosevelt's New Deal. He strongly supported FDR in all his actions, which no doubt influenced the many social changes he brought. Then Johnson became a Representative, and eventually a Senator and then Vice President of the United States. Johnson's most important successes would no doubt be in his presidency. As President, Johnson urged much legislation to be passed to solve the many social struggles of his day. He passed legislation to help the consumers, the air quality, the environment, Medicare, and of the civil rights movement. With the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965, LBJ made huge strides to end prejudice.
Arguments:
Lyndon Baines Johnson is no doubt the most qualified for the position of Nixon's Secretary of Social Reform. He has the necessary experience to fulfill the job successfully. He grew up with the social troubles that are thwarting the country, and would know how to deal with them and how the people would react to such policies/legislations passed. Also, he as experience as A President who successfully passed many, many policies already for social reform. To continue, the civil rights movement is an extremely important cause that should be improved immediately. It involves the entire country, and is a controversial subject that shouldn't be. It is clear that the government was instituted for all to receive equal rights, and this movement is assuring that it is being followed. As Johnson states, this is not a constitutional or moral issue, but an issue of human rights whereas we must overcome the injustice which is attempting to suffocate that. Johnson as an already extraordinary social activist will make sure social reform is conducted successfully. Johnson was on fairly good terms with many, for he knew how to get his way or to persuade others to support his belief. The Southerners and Republicans were wary of his ideas however, and were not exactly friends with Johnson.
References:
1. Martin Luther King Jr: MLK had worked successfully with JFK until his assination. Johnson in respect followed the policies that JFK struggles to pass. Johnson supported the movement which Martin Luther King himself along with many African Americans were striving for. They were both trying to reach justice for all, and to make sure equality rang clear. 2. Rachel Carson: Carson was an activist who supported environmental friendly materials. Johnson was also in agreeance with Carson on that issue. They both believed that actions should be taken to enhance and conserve the natural wonders of the world. 3. John Lewis: Lewis was one of the leaders in the civil rights movement, which was also Johnson's most devoted cause. Lewis was the chairperson of the SNCC, which promoted non violence among children to end segregation. He was a very important aspect to the movement, and help create more strides to end prejudice.
"This voting rights bill will be the latest and among the most important in a long series of victories. But this victory.. is not the end; it is not even the beginning of the end.... Freedom is the right to share fully and equally in American society, to vote, to hold a job, to enter a public place, to go to school.... But freedom is not enough. You do not wipe away the scars of centuries by saying now you're free to go where you want and do as you desire and choose the leaders you please. You do not take a person who for years has been hobbled by chains and liberate him, bring him up to the starting line of a race and then say, you're free to compete with all the others. Negroes are trapped, as many Whites are trapped, in inherited gateless poverty. They lack training and skills. They are shut in slums without decent medical care .... We are trying to attack these evils.... Much of the Negro community is buried under a blanket of history and circumstance. It is not a lasting solution to lift just one corner of that blanket."
Social Movement:
Lyndon Baines Johnson is no doubt one of the most active and influential social reformers in American history. He supported many human rights movements for consumer protection, poverty, education, healthcare, and the environment. However, his most devoted and breakthrough cause would be the civil rights movement. Throughout his careers and presidency, he strived to give African Americans the rights they deserved, notably voting rights. He successfully passed much legislation and support which significantly allowed people to grasp the equality they deserved, and paved the way for the eventual end to prejudice.
Purpose/Drive:
Johnson grew up in Johnson City, Texas. His upbringing and social status growing up heeds an understanding and reason to why he strongly supports social movements. LBJ lived in poverty majority of his childhood, and he even states that his earliest memory would be comforting his mother at the water pump. He had done odd jobs here and there to bring extra cash in at home, such as shoeshine and helping out in farms. Lyndon Baines Johnson grew up with a strong moral fiber, and despite being a Southerner believed that African Americans should receive the same rights as whites. He was an idealist with lofty goals to completely change the way America functioned, and to bring desperately needed social reforms.
Occupation/Socio Economic Background:
LBJ has much experience which would be extremely beneficial to the position being offered as the Secretary of Social Reform. He has a first hand experience in the horrors and struggle of the low class social problems, and no doubt could use those credentials to properly make some progress. His first real occupation was as a teacher in his state. He worked with black farmers and school children, because he believed small steps would make better progress. Johnson eventually became the Director of the National Youth Administration, which was part of Franklin Roosevelt's New Deal. He strongly supported FDR in all his actions, which no doubt influenced the many social changes he brought. Then Johnson became a Representative, and eventually a Senator and then Vice President of the United States. Johnson's most important successes would no doubt be in his presidency. As President, Johnson urged much legislation to be passed to solve the many social struggles of his day. He passed legislation to help the consumers, the air quality, the environment, Medicare, and of the civil rights movement. With the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965, LBJ made huge strides to end prejudice.
Arguments:
Lyndon Baines Johnson is no doubt the most qualified for the position of Nixon's Secretary of Social Reform. He has the necessary experience to fulfill the job successfully. He grew up with the social troubles that are thwarting the country, and would know how to deal with them and how the people would react to such policies/legislations passed. Also, he as experience as A President who successfully passed many, many policies already for social reform. To continue, the civil rights movement is an extremely important cause that should be improved immediately. It involves the entire country, and is a controversial subject that shouldn't be. It is clear that the government was instituted for all to receive equal rights, and this movement is assuring that it is being followed. As Johnson states, this is not a constitutional or moral issue, but an issue of human rights whereas we must overcome the injustice which is attempting to suffocate that. Johnson as an already extraordinary social activist will make sure social reform is conducted successfully. Johnson was on fairly good terms with many, for he knew how to get his way or to persuade others to support his belief. The Southerners and Republicans were wary of his ideas however, and were not exactly friends with Johnson.
References:
1. Martin Luther King Jr: MLK had worked successfully with JFK until his assination. Johnson in respect followed the policies that JFK struggles to pass. Johnson supported the movement which Martin Luther King himself along with many African Americans were striving for. They were both trying to reach justice for all, and to make sure equality rang clear.
2. Rachel Carson: Carson was an activist who supported environmental friendly materials. Johnson was also in agreeance with Carson on that issue. They both believed that actions should be taken to enhance and conserve the natural wonders of the world.
3. John Lewis: Lewis was one of the leaders in the civil rights movement, which was also Johnson's most devoted cause. Lewis was the chairperson of the SNCC, which promoted non violence among children to end segregation. He was a very important aspect to the movement, and help create more strides to end prejudice.
Bibliography:
*"American Experience . The Presidents . Lyndon B. Johnson |." PBS. Web. 05 Dec. 2009. <http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/amex/presidents/36_l_johnson/index.html>.
"American President: Lyndon Baines Johnson: A Life in Brief." Miller Center of Public Affairs. Web. 05 Dec. 2009. <http://millercenter.org/academic/americanpresident/lbjohnson/essays/biography/1>.
The Complete Book of US Presidents. XII ed. Vol. I. Fort Lee, NJ: Barricade Books, 2009. Print.